The over-population of deer has resulted in the 

•  Danger of a disease outbreak
•  Highest deer-car crashes in Michigan
•  Devastation of Oakland County's landscape
•  Motorists, children and our environment/ecosystem are at risk

Plants are the foundation of the ecosystem's food chain. When this foundation begins to crumble, all other levels of the food chain and other species of wildlife including insects, birds and mammals are affected. Too many deer threaten the health of the native ecosystems. 

It threatens the regeneration of trees, which the birds use for their nesting places.

If overpopulation continues for several years, deer will eventually eat almost all the vegetation within their reach, and the woods will have a 'browse line' or park-like appearance. This is accompanied or followed by disease and starvation in the deer herd. 
A mature deer will consume five to seven pounds of organic matter every day. One cannot fault them but only the environment in which they live, one that is absent of enough needful predators. 

An overpopulation of deer has far reaching effects, not only on the deer, but other wildlife and the environment as well.

Comments from Rochester Hills Residents

Of importance is the diseases spread by the deer. Most of you are familiar with Lyme disease, which is in existence even if some of you don't believe it. It is contracted by the deer tick. 

Bovine Tuberculosis or TB, which is an infectious disease that poses a significant risk to domestic livestock, wildlife, companion animals and humans throughout the world. 
EE was found in deer in Kent County.
The others are Mad Cow Disease and Mad Deer disease, which has puzzled researchers over brain illness in North American wildlife.
The diseases could spread to humans.
You may research this yourself on the State of Michigan website. There is a list of how many deer have tested positive for Tuberculosis in certain Michigan counties as well. The DNR recommends keeping the deer population under control to prevent a catastrophic outbreak of those diseases.

And all those deer droppings.......
Small children and pets are at risk!

I have had extensive experience with soaps, nettings, rotten eggs, pepper and commercial deer repellents of all sorts. Under heavy deer pressure they will not work effectively and the products that show some promise, are expensive and impractical to use on a large scale. My opinion is absolutely confirmed by most member's of the Master Gardener and Conifer Society and is the product of years of cohabitation with these creatures that are merely genetically engineered to eat an amazing diversity of plants.

Just look around you. Look at your parks were most of the native wild flowers and ground covers have disappeared. The landscape has been overtaken with invasive species like mustard garlic weed. The under-story has disappeared due to the constant browsing of too many deer.

Siegrid Stern, October 2009
Advanced Master Gardener

Deer management plan gets go-ahead

Re: Lethal means option should be remain open - Politics vs Safety
Published Oct. 21.2009 Oakland Press - Opinion - Voice of the People: Letters to the editor, Oct.21

I recently watched the League of Women Voters’ Meet The Candidates Debate in Rochester Hills.

If I heard Councilman Erik Ambrozaitis’s response correctly, he suggested next proposing a resolution to halt “all further lethal means” of controlling our deer herds within our city.

Politically, that may sound like a good idea, but it is completely irresponsible to propose such a resolution.

The vote with the members of the Deer Advisory Committee was close, 4-3 to discontinue the use of a lethal means to thin immediate future herds. This vote was for the year 2010 only to be further explored in the future, depending upon the herd population, accident rates, and the needs of the community.

This vote in no way was intended to indicate a permanent resolution on the halt of the use of lethal means.

The herd numbers are increasing.

My vote then was for the safety of our residents, and it still is. The entire vote was for a one-year period only.

I remain the voice of the people who were intimidated by others that were in the audience at every DMAC meeting.

Those very same people were at the “Meet The Candidates Debate” with intimidating yes or no vote answers from each candidate as to culling here in Rochester Hills.

It has become “political” instead of being a safety issue.

It takes courage to stand against a crowd, rather than go along in a politically expedient manner to gain votes.

I urge you to stand with the majority of our residents in leaving open the lethal means possibility for future consideration.

A resolution such as this being created by the council during an election period, followed by a large increase in the herd and in accidents, would create an embarrassing situation in the future, and would be taking a step back in leaving options open for the council.

Linda Raschke, Rochester Hills
Co-Chair of The Deer Management Advisory Committee

Cedar Rapid Urban Deer Task Force - Recommendations for Cedar Rapids Bow Hunting Guidelines and Rules

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